Magazine clip exterior housing system

ABSTRACT

A magazine clip exterior housing system that facilitates belt attachment of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety of automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems. The housing can be removably or permanently attached over the lower half of the exterior surface of a magazine clip, and the enclosed clip can be used in the weapon system without the need to remove the housing. The housing system includes a belt clip on one side and a series of raised ribs on the other side to provide for secure clip handling. In the removably attached embodiment a groove in the interior surface guides the magazine clip into position within the apparatus. The housing is made of resilient, lightweight plastic which provides an appropriate coefficient of friction between the housing system and the user&#39;s hands, as well as an appropriate degree of durability/longevity. The device is simple, scalable, and economically manufactured.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to weapon systems and, more particularly, to the ammunition magazine clips utilized in automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems, and even more particularly, to means for facilitating the transportation and handling/loading of those ammunition magazine clips.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background

[0004] In use, automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems can consume ammunition at a rapid rate. Many situations requiring the use of those systems (e.g. warfare, police response situations) also require the operator to be mobile (i.e. on foot). Operator mobility, however, gives rise to the logistical issue of ammunition supply. Traditional methods for transporting the magazine clips utilized in automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems typically include some form of container in which one or more clips may be stored/carried. The container is then transported by hand or affixed to the weapon's operator in some fashion.

[0005] A secondary issue is the configuration of the magazine clips themselves. Their physical design is intended to facilitate their use in the appropriate weapon systems, generally at the expense of ergonomic considerations. That physical design typically includes smooth, metallic, external surfaces that are not always easy to grasp, and hold onto, when one's hands are wet, cold, etc. (i.e. conditions all too often typical to warfare and/or police response situations). Thus, the handling and loading of the magazine clips, even when they are available to the weapon's operator, can be problematic.

[0006] The present inventor is not the first to address means for facilitating the transportation and handling/loading of magazine clips. For example, apparatus intended for the transportation and/or handling/loading of ammunition magazine clips are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,815 to Fitzpatrick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,872 to Bammate, U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,442 to Gallagher, U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,962 to Musgrave, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,717 to Theodore.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,815 to Fitzpatrick discloses a magazine grip attachment for ammunition magazines to aid in extraction of magazines from ammunition pouches. The apparatus comprises a sleeve of resilient material molded in the general shape of a magazine yet with a smaller inner circumference than the circumference of a magazine so as to require the band to stretch over the magazine. Extending from the top of the band is a handle designed to allow a finger to wrap around the handle and extract the magazine. Also provided are recessed areas and four diagonal force distribution beams to constrict the invention and allow it to grip a magazine more snugly when the handle is pulled.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,872 to Bammate discloses a cartridge package for an automatic or semiautomatic firearm. The cartridge package includes an operational loader having a magazine filled with cartridges. The operational loader and cartridges are enclosed in a protective piece for protection against shocks and pollution. The package includes a rigid cap and a tearable bag.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,442 to Gallagher discloses a case for storing and transporting a clip of cartridges that are fired in a gun. A user can remove the clip from the case by inserting his thumb intermediate the clip and the backing of the case and by grasping the clip between his thumb and forefinger.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,962 to Musgrave discloses a cartridge magazine hanger adapted for quick removal of a magazine using only one hand. The magazine is supported by engagement of at least one of its feed lips with a support on the hanger. The hanger can be attached to the clothing or equipment of the user or it can be mounted on a firearm, a vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, or a stationary structure.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,717 to Theodore discloses a cartridge magazine holder including a magnet to hold a pair of cartridge magazines with large portions of the magazines exposed so that they may be easily grasped and withdrawn by the user. The magazine holder rides high on the belt of the wearer and holds the magazine flat against the body for easy concealment.

[0012] Unfortunately, each of these devices fail, in some way, to optimize the transportation and handling/loading of magazine clips. The Fitzpatrick device, although intended to enhance an operator's ability to extract a clip from a pouch/container, does nothing to improve the means for transporting each individual magazine clip, while the Bammate, Gallagher, Musgrave, and Theodore apparatus do nothing to improve the ergonomics of magazine clip handling/loading (e.g. apparatus intended to improve the operator's ability to grasp, and hold onto, the clip when his/her hands are wet, cold, etc.). Consequently, it would be greatly advantageous to provide a magazine clip exterior housing system that (1) simplifies the transportation of the clips, (2) significantly enhances the ergonomics of handling the clips during the loading procedure, (3) possesses a simple, yet scalable, design fabricated of resilient, lightweight materials, and (4) may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that facilitates the transportation and handling/loading of the magazine clips utilized by M-16, M-4, and MP-5 weapon systems.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that may be permanently affixed or removably attached to a magazine clip without affecting its ability to interface with the associated weapon system.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that may be temporarily affixed to the operator of the weapon system.

[0016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that possesses a simple and scalable design.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that is fabricated of lightweight, resilient materials providing an appropriate degree of durability/longevity.

[0018] An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use.

[0019] According to the present invention, the above-described and other objects are accomplished by an exterior housing system that facilitates the transportation, typically on the belt of the user, of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety of automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems. The present invention may be removably attached (i.e. a friction fit), or permanently affixed (e.g. glued or molded onto) over roughly the lower half of the exterior surface of a magazine clip. In this manner, the enclosed magazine clip may be used in the weapon system without the need to remove the housing system. The exterior housing system includes a belt attachment clip on one side and a series of raised ribs on the other side to provide for secure clip handling. When utilized as a removably attached apparatus, an interior surface of the present invention is provided with a groove that guides the magazine clip into position within the apparatus. The present invention is fabricated of a resilient, lightweight plastic chosen to provide an appropriate coefficient of friction between the housing system and the user's hands, as well as an appropriate degree of durability/longevity. The present invention possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is an end perspective view of a magazine clip exterior housing system 10 according a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the housing system 10 of FIG. 1 showing a belt attachment clip 30.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the housing system 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the housing system 10 of FIGS. 1-3 showing a plurality of raised ribs 50.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention is a magazine clip exterior housing system 10 that facilitates the transportation and handling/loading of the ammunition magazine clips utilized by a variety of automatic and semi-automatic weapon systems. FIGS. 1-4 are, respectively, end, side, top, and side perspective views of the exterior housing system 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The housing system 10 preferably comprises an internal cavity 20, an attachment clip 30, and a plurality of raised ribs 50. The housing system 10 is preferably fabricated of a resilient, lightweight plastic that is chosen to provide an appropriate coefficient of friction between the housing system's exterior surface and the user's hands, as well as an appropriate degree of durability/longevity. An example of a suitable plastic material is the Nylon variation known as Albis Polyamide 6 PA 45/0, unreinforced, DAM and commercially available from Albis Plastics Corporation of Houston, Tex. However, any resilient, lightweight plastic material possessing appropriate frictional properties and the ability to be molded into to the required form may be utilized.

[0026] The internal cavity 20 is defined by two side walls 21, 22, two end walls 23, 24, and a bottom surface 25. The end walls 23, 24 may be slightly curved to match the curved configuration of a magazine clip (not shown in the Figures). The interior surface of an end wall 23 may include a lengthwise groove 40 that, when the exterior housing system 10 is used in a removably attached configuration, guides a magazine clip into position within the system 10. A through hole 42 may be included in the bottom surface 25, offset toward the aforementioned groove 40, that aligns with a hole located in the bottom end of a magazine clip to facilitate the drainage of any liquid, or other contaminants, that might get into the clip.

[0027] An attachment clip 30 may be fixedly attached to an external surface of a side wall 21. The clip 30 is preferably affixed to the side wall 21 such that its lengthwise axis is perpendicular to the plane 26 defined by the opening in the internal cavity 20. The attachment clip 30 typically comprises an anchor section 31, a central section 32, a distal end 33, and a protruding element 34.

[0028] A plurality of raised ribs 50 may be formed on the external surface of a side wall 22. Each of the raised ribs 50 preferably possesses a semi-circular cross-section. The ribs 50 are preferably formed such that, lengthwise, they run parallel to the bottom surface 25.

[0029] In use, the exterior housing system 10 of the present invention may be removably attached via a friction fit between the internal cavity 20 and roughly the lower half of the external surface of a magazine clip. In this configuration, the housing system 10 is preferably molded as a stand alone unit with internal dimensions that are slightly smaller than the external dimensions of the magazine clip. Where appropriate, a groove 40 is included in the end wall 23 to match up with a protrusion in the external surface of a magazine clip to assist in properly seating the clip in the housing system 10. Over time, a single housing system 10 may be used in conjunction with a plurality of magazine clips.

[0030] Alternatively, the system 10 may be permanently affixed by being glued over, or molded directly onto roughly the lower half of the external surface of a magazine clip. In either the removably attached or permanently affixed configuration, the enclosed magazine clip may be used in its associated weapon system without interference from the housing system 10.

[0031] The exterior housing system 10 improves the personal transportation of magazine clips via the inclusion of the attachment clip 30. The clip 30 is most often used to temporarily attach the housing system 10 and enclosed magazine clip to a users belt by positioning the belt within the cavity defined by the side wall 21, the anchor section 31, the central section 32, and the protruding element 34. However, the housing system 10 may be temporarily attached to any article that will fit within the above described cavity.

[0032] The exterior housing system 10 improves the handling and loading of magazine clips via the inclusion of the plurality of raised ribs 50. The presence of the raised ribs 50, in combination with the coefficient of friction provided by the material of construction, significantly reduces the user's potential for mishandling (e.g. dropping) the ammunition regardless of the surrounding circumstances (e.g. wet/cold hands, the emotions of the moment—fear, excitement, etc.).

[0033] The exterior housing system 10 possesses a simple, yet scalable, design that may be economically manufactured and sold to provide for widespread use. As described above, the present invention facilitates the transportation and handling/loading of ammunition magazine clips by providing a conveniently utilized belt attachment clip 30 and a plurality of raised ribs 50 on one of its external surfaces. Users of the automatic and semi-automatic weapons for which the exterior housing system 10 is intended will appreciate the increased coefficient of friction, between their hands and their ammunition, provided by the resilient plastic material of construction as compared to the typical metallic surfaces of the magazine clip.

[0034] Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A magazine clip exterior housing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of walls defining a cavity, said cavity being open at one end; an attachment clip fixedly attached exteriorly to one of said plurality of walls; and a plurality of raised protrusions formed exteriorly on another of said plurality of walls; whereby an ammunition magazine clip may be permanently affixed in said housing apparatus to facilitate the transportation, handling, and loading of said magazine clip.
 2. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a through hole formed in one of said plurality of walls for drainage purposes.
 3. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of walls, said attachment clip, and said plurality of raised protrusions are fabricated of a plastic material possessing an appropriate coefficient of friction.
 4. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plastic material is Nylon.
 5. A magazine clip exterior housing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of walls defining a cavity, said cavity being open at one end; an attachment clip fixedly attached exteriorly to one of said plurality of walls; and a plurality of raised protrusions formed exteriorly on another of said plurality of walls; whereby an ammunition magazine clip may be removably inserted into said housing apparatus to facilitate the transportation, handling, and loading of said magazine clip.
 6. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a groove formed in one of said plurality of walls for facilitating the insertion of said magazine clip into said housing apparatus.
 7. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a through hole formed in one of said plurality of walls for drainage purposes.
 8. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of walls, said attachment clip, and said plurality of raised protrusions are fabricated of a plastic material possessing an appropriate coefficient of friction.
 9. The magazine clip exterior housing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said plastic material is Nylon. 